Chapter 225 Given to Mom

Chapter 225 Given to Mom

Luke took the cake. "Andy's been staying at Evelyn's place these past couple days, so he couldn't make it over."

After saying this, he pulled out a small box from his suit pocket and handed it to her.

"This is from Andy."

Maggie took it and opened it. Inside was a bracelet.

A silver chain, both the style and material quite ordinary.

Compared to the custom jewelry Andy had given her in previous years, this was several notches lower.

Maggie smiled, put the bracelet on her wrist, shook it a bit, and said, "Andy's really becoming more sensible."

She turned around, but the smile on her lips slowly faded.

In the past, Andy would always come in person for her birthday, bringing carefully selected gifts.

But this year, not only did he not come, he just had someone bring over an ordinary bracelet.

And he was staying at Evelyn's house.

Could it be that Evelyn wouldn't let him come?

Though Maggie didn't know the specifics, she already had her own theory.

The party continued.

Maggie held her wine glass, smiling and talking to everyone, appearing completely normal.

But in her heart, she kept waiting.

Yet even as guests began to leave one by one, Luke never made any gesture.

He sat on the sofa, chatted briefly with Calvin, then stood up. "I'm heading out."

Then he walked out the door of the Nguyen Manor.

Maggie stood at the entrance, wanting to say something, but Luke had already driven away.

Her hand stopped in mid-air.

Behind her, Eleanor came out and stood beside her, saying quietly, "Maggie, don't be sad. Maybe... Luke wants to give you an even bigger surprise, he just hasn't prepared it yet."

Maggie didn't respond, turning back into the house.

There was hardly anyone left in the living room. More than half the cake remained on the table, the frosting already melting, spreading in a sticky mess on the plate.

Those gift boxes were piled on the coffee table, all colorful, but she didn't want to open any of them.

"Have someone clean this up."

She gave a self-mocking smile.

In the end, it was all for nothing.

Then she went upstairs.

The next afternoon, Andy sat on the sofa in the Thomas Manor living room, hugging his phone, his face scrunched up.

He scrolled back and forth, finally dialing Maggie's number.

The phone was answered after just a few rings.

Andy immediately started apologizing: "Maggie, I'm sorry, I was having dinner at Mom's house yesterday and missed your birthday."

His voice was soft, carrying some guilt. "I want to take you out today, okay?"

Maggie immediately responded warmly: "Sure, I happen to be free this afternoon. Where do you want to go?"

Andy thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the mall together!"

"Okay, Maggie will come pick you up in a bit."

After hanging up, Maggie leaned back on the sofa, her lips curving slightly.

Though Luke hadn't proposed on her birthday, at least Luke's son still liked her.

If she could maintain a firm hold on Andy, it would be highly beneficial to her future position in the Miller family.

With that thought, she changed clothes, grabbed her bag, and headed out.

That afternoon, the mall wasn't crowded. Autumn afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass dome, falling on the gleaming marble floor.

Andy held Maggie's hand with one hand and a juice cup with the other, slurping loudly.

Eleanor followed alongside, wearing a newly bought dress and high heels, carrying a small bag, occasionally looking down at her phone.

She hadn't wanted to come, but Maggie said it would help build goodwill with Andy, so she came along.

When they passed a luxury store, Eleanor's eyes lit up.

She grabbed Maggie's arm. "Maggie, let's go in and look around, since we're already here."

Maggie glanced at Andy, who nodded indifferently, and the three of them pushed through the door.

A sales associate approached with a sweet smile: "What would you like to see?"

Eleanor looked around, walked over to a necklace, and pointed at the main diamond, her eyes shining.

"This diamond is so beautiful, and so big." She bent down, staring intently, almost pressing her face against the glass.

Andy stood on his tiptoes, leaned over to look, then pulled back, his tone casual: "This one's pretty small."

"A while ago, Dad bought Mom a gemstone that was really big, so big I couldn't hold it in one hand."

He spread his small hands to demonstrate, making a circle with his thumb and index finger, then decided it wasn't big enough and stretched both hands wide open.

The store went quiet for a moment.

The sales associate's smile froze on her face, the necklace she was about to display suspended in mid-air.

Eleanor's eyes went wide, her mouth hanging open, unable to close for a long time.

"How is that possible? How could Mr. Miller possibly..."

Andy looked up at Eleanor, his tone matter-of-fact and a bit confused.

"It was for Mom. It was Mom's birthday, so Dad gave Mom a big gemstone. What's wrong with that?"

Eleanor's mind went blank.

She had always thought that eight-hundred-million-dollar gemstone was something Luke bought to propose to Maggie.

She'd been happy for Maggie for days, even started imagining what Maggie would look like wearing that gemstone.

Now Andy was telling her that Luke had given the gemstone to Evelyn.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask more, but Maggie spoke first.

"There's nothing wrong with that."

Maggie's voice was very calm, too calm for someone who had just learned this news.

She bent down to look at Andy, a smile on her lips, her tone gentle: "That's nice. Mom's birthday, Dad gives a gift, very normal. Andy is so thoughtful."

She straightened up, took Andy's hand, and suggested: "We're done here, there's a park nearby, let's go play there."

Andy nodded happily, pulling her hand as they walked out.

Eleanor stood there, watching Maggie's back, her lips moving, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

After two steps, Maggie suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at her.

She didn't speak, just gave Eleanor a look.

The meaning of that look was clear: don't go spreading this around.

Eleanor felt her heart tighten under that gaze, instinctively nodded, and quickly followed.

The park wasn't large—a patch of lawn, a small lake, a few banyan trees.

Andy ran around on the grass, chasing a butterfly, laughing gleefully.

Maggie sat on a nearby bench, watching him, a smile on her face but her eyes somewhat empty.

Eleanor sat beside her, wanting to speak several times but not knowing what to say.

"Maggie, aren't you... aren't you angry?" Eleanor couldn't hold back.

Maggie's hands rested on her knees, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the fabric of her skirt.

"What's there to be angry about? The thing belongs to Luke, he can give it to whoever he wants." She paused. "Besides, it's just a gemstone."

Eleanor opened her mouth, wanting to say that wasn't just any gemstone, it was over eight hundred million dollars.

But seeing Maggie's expression, she chose to stay quiet.

By the time Andy got tired of playing, the sun had already started to set.

Maggie took his hand and walked out of the park, taking him back to the Miller Manor.

The car stopped at the entrance. Andy unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed open the door, and turned back to wave at her reluctantly.

"Bye, Maggie!"

Maggie waved back at him. "Bye."

Andy ran into the courtyard, his small figure disappearing through the door.

The car door closed, and the car fell silent.

Maggie leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

The driver asked where to go, and she said back to the Nguyen Manor.

The car started and merged onto the main road. The street scenes flew backward past the window, neon lights turning on one by one.

She opened her eyes, looking at the grayish sky outside.

Over eight hundred million dollars.

Just like that, given to Evelyn?